Railway signal-torpedo



F. DUTCHER.

RAILWAY SiGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.19I8.

1,31 1,762. 1 Patented July 29, 1919.

rm; COLUMBIA PLANfNlRAPH cm, wASHlN ToN, n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK -DUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Railway signal-Torpedoes, of which the following 1s a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and more particularly to torpedoes of this type which are designed to be placed in operative position on the railroad track by means of a visible signal device and more particularly of the semaphore type.

Visible signal devices operated either manually or electrically by the well known block system have been provided with a reciprocating plunger mechanism which is operated in conjunction with the setting of the visible signal or semaphore to place a railway signal torpedo on the track. The

present improvement contemplates the design of a railway torpedo and a. holder therefor which is attachable to and removable from the end of the reciprocating plunger above mentioned. The torpedo itself is also constructed so that it may be attached to and removed from the holder.

The present improved torpedo and its holder, provide a simple, inexpenslve, and commercial means for supplying the torpedo setting mechanism of a visible device, with torpedoes.

Other objects and advantages of the present improvement will be set forth in detall in the following description and drawings, in whi ch Figure 1 is a perspective view of a semaphore signal device having a torpedo settlng mechanism to which the improved holder and torpedo are attached.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the torpedo holder and torpedo shown in separated relation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the torpedo attached to the holder.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the torpedo showing it attached to the plate, the latter being shown in cross-section.

Referring now' to the drawings in detail, in which like reference numerals designate Application filed January 23, 1918.

Speeification of Letters Patent. Patented July 29, 1919.

Serial No. 213,299.

similar parts throughout the several figures:

The reference numeral 1 designates the signal standard or tower within which is located the setting mechanism (not shown) for setting the semaphore signal 2, and operating the reciprocating plunger 3. The outer end of the plunger 3 is provided with a longitudinal socket 4 to receive the tongue or projection 5 integral with the torpedo holder 6. Both the tongue 5 and holder 6 are illustrated as being formed from a thin sheet of metal which is of quality low enough so that a holder is supplied with each torpedo and intended to be destroyed by the explosion of the torpedo.

The outer end of the holder 6 is provided with two parallel slots which as here shown extend parallel the holder. These slots receive pliable metallic tongues or arms 7 which extend down from opposite sides of the body of the torpedo 8, and these tongues afterpassing through the slots are doubled laterally to secure the torpedo and its holder together.

This construction provides a torpedo with a projecting arm or holder, and thus provides means for attachably connecting the torpedo to the signal operated member 3.

In operation, the torpedo 8 and holder or attaching arm 6 are first connected together and the inner end 5 of the holder is then slipped in the socket 4 of the signal operated. member 3. lVhen the signal member, or semaphore arm 2 is thrown into danger position, the member 3 carrying the torpedo holder is moved outward, and the torpedo 8 will rest over the tread of the rail 9 as shown in Fig. 1. lVhen the torpedo has been exploded by a passing train, the torpedo is of course destroyed, and the holder, may be so shattered as to be unfit for further use. However this may be, the holder 6 is removed, and another combined holder and torpedo placed in the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood from the foregoing, that in a block system, the semaphore is raised when a train passes into that block and is lowered when it passes out of the block and the holder 6 and torpedo 8 move out and in corresponding with the up and down movement of the semaphore. The type of combined semaphore and signal tor- The torpedo 8, is preferably of the;

paper or non-flying type, and the metallic arms or tongues 7 suitably attached thereto, but the improvement is-notlimited to any particular form of torpedo, so long as itis provided with means of attachment to a holder. to be operated by a'signal.

The semaphore signal, or its mechanism for moving the member 3 in and out forms no part of my present-invention, and therefore needs no further description or: illustration than already given;

Having thus described my inventionvvhat I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a railway signal torpedo and a. holder therefor, one; end-0f the, holder and the torpedo having respectively slots and interlocking tongues, the other end projecting from the torpedo for t e purposedescribed. V

2'. In a railway signal devi ce, the combination of a holder provided at one end with slots, and, at its other end With a horizontally reduced projection for attachment to a sig1 1al member, and a railwaysignal torpedo comprising a body portionprovided --at;opposite -sides of its bottom with downwardly projecting metallic tongues passing through said holder: slotsand serving, to connectthe torpedo to the, holder.

In testimony whereof I hereunto; alfix my 35 signature-in the presenceof twowitnesses.

FRANK- DUTGHER.

- 'VVitnes'ses: V

R..W. JUNKER, W. BLJUNKER.

copies of this.patent, maybe obtained forfive cents;each,- by-addressing the Commissioner ofratents,

, .Washington, D. G. 

